Lighting system and apparatus



Nov. 6, 1934., T. L. ZAUSKEY LIGHTING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed April 23, 1932 QT A;

five/225077 oms Z. Zazza/f Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITE $TATES LIGHTING SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Thomas L. Zauskey, Chicago, 111. Application April 23, 1932, Serial No. 607,015

3 Claims. (01. 240-3) This invention relates to lighting systems and apparatus, and its principal object is to increase the efliciency of such systems and apparatus.

7 Another object is to provide lighting apparatus wherein a'given area may receive a maximum amount of illumination with less consumption of power than has been heretofore obtained.

Another object isto provide a system of reflectors, co-operating to conserve all of thelight 0 rays issuing from a plurality of light sources, and

diffuse the rays through a light opening, whereby the apparatus may eifectively illuminate a given area with a lesser number of light sources, and, consequently with the expenditure of a lesser amount of current than heretofore. The invention not only embraces the system of illumination set forth herein but also the apparatus by which the system is rendered effective.

The invention is more particularly designed for situations where a flood of light rays is required, such as in the show windows of stores,

on large sign boards, to illuminate baseball parks or other sports fields, and in practically all other *places which will readily suggest themselves.

In its simplest form the invention consists in apair of lighting elements, each provided with a high eflicient concave reflector, the one reflector facing the other and beingunited by an auxiliary reflector of substantially cylindrical form having an opening through which the rays of light are diffused in all directions both from the lighting elements themselves and from the reflecting surfaces of the apparatus.

Y The invention further consists in illuminating apparatus provided with reflecting surfaces for distributing or scattering the rays of light so as to eliminate the glare which is usuallypresent in lighting apparatus.

The invention further consists in a lighting 40 system wherein the light rays issuing from two oppositely disposed sources of light are reflected towards each other and upon an auxiliary reflector of substantially cylindrical form having a light opening through which substantially all of the lightrays are projected, whereby to uniformly illuminate a given area with a maximum amount of light.

To produce the best results it has been found preferable to position the light sources or lighting elements at one side of the axis of the auxiliary cylindrical reflector, but this arrangement is not essential to the invention broadly considered. Furthermore, multiples of lighting elements can be employed in the one lighting apparatus and auxiliary lights can also be supplied therein as may be found desirable.

The invention further consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawing accompanying this specification in which- Figurel is a front elevation of a fragment of. a store front looking from the inside illustrating a simple embodiment of the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical longitudinal section illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical cross section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical longitudinal section through a slightly modified form of the invention; and i Fig. 5 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of a fragment of a lighting apparatus illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing accompanying this specification, the reference character 1 designates a large display window, back of which is a space for the exhibit of goods or other merchandise for sale. At thetop of the window is a valance 2, to the rear of which is a lighting unit 3 embodying the preferred form of the present invention. The lighting unit is supported in any desirable manner and is illustrated in position for illuminating the space occupied by the goods or merchandise on display behind the window.

In its preferred form the apparatus comprises a pair of opposing reflectors 4 having oppositely disposed concave reflecting surfaces 5. Extending between and joining with the margins of the reflectors' l is an auxiliary cylindrical reflector 6 having a reflecting surface 7 of cylindrical form, said cylindrical reflector having an opening 8 in the wall thereof through which all of the light rays are projected.

Suitably supported between said concave reflectors is a pair of lighting elements or light sources 9 desirably in the form of electric light bulbs, and said light bulbs are here shown as mounted in lamp sockets 10 secured to the wall of the cylindrical reflector 6 at places disposed opposite to the light opening 8 thereof. Desirably housings 11 may be provided on the exterior of the cylindrical reflector 6, said housings having openings in their walls for the escape of heated air that may accumulate, and, if desired, a con- 10 capacity of the lighting elements and the size of duit 12 may be provided for the reception of the electric conductors that lead from the lamp sockets. Said conduit may comprise a part of the lamp housing and may be fastened to a pipe or other support 13 by which the apparatus is supported and through which the electric conductors may pass.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the concave reflectors 4 are inclined with respect to each other and reflect the rays of lightissuing from the light sources 9 toward each other and toward the cylindrical auxiliary reflector and also outward through the opening 8. Light rays issuing from the light sources also pass directly out through the opening 8 and other light rays pass directly to the cylindrical reflector 6 which reflects some of them out through the opening 8. and reflects some of the light rays upon itself at other places, whereby the light rays are finally projected out through the light opening 8. In other words, all ofthe light rays issuing fromth'e two light sources are conserved and those which do not pass directly out through the light opening 8 are reflected back and forth between the concave and cylindrical reflecting surfaces until they are finally directed out through the opening 8, whereby the light rays are diffused through said light opening and confined to the area which is to be illuminated. In Figs. 2 and'3, the light sources 9 are disposed above the axis of the cylindrical reflecting surface whereby light rays striking said cylindrical surface will be re-' flected back and forth and flnallyprojected out through the light opening 8.

The size, of the lighting apparatus, the exact shape of the reflectors and the size of the opening through which the light rays are projected may, of course, be varied to suit any particular requirement. The angle of inclination of the concave reflectors with respect to each other may be varied to obtain the results desired.

In the operation-0f the lighting apparatus, the unit is positioned with the opening thereof disposed at a place where the light rays diffused through. the opening will be most effective for the use to which the system is being put. As illustrated in Fig. l, the opening is directed downw'ardly so as to illuminate the space therebelow. If the side of a sign, building or the like, is to be illuminated, the opening is directed towards the side sign or building. However, with the opening directed downward, as illustrated in Fig. 3, a sign may be placed directly below the lighting apparatus and both sides thereof illuminated by the one unit. A great saving of current consumption is thereby effected, since both sides of. the sign may be eifectively'illuminated. with a single unit.

The capacity of the system is determined by the the opening in the cylindrical reflector. By widening the Iopening a. greater area may be illuminated with the unit and by narrowing the opening the light rays. will be concentrated to. a

greater degree upon the surface being illuminated.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, the axes of the concave reflectors 4 are, disposed in alignment with the axis of thecylindrical reflector 6 and the lighting. elements 9 are mounted in lamp sockets carried by the .concave reflectors. An auxiliary light source 9" may be employed withinthe cylindrical reflector midv of the object I way betweenits ends, and. the rays of light issuing from said auxiliary source of light are combined with those issuing from the light sources 9 and reflected out through the light opening by the concave and cylindrical reflectors. Any number of auxiliary lighting elements 9 may be employed within the cylindrical reflector in addition to the oppositely disposed lighting elements 9 This form of the invention is particularly desirable where it is found necessary to provide an elongated cylindrical reflector. The apparatus is here shown as supported by chains 12 and the cylindrical reflector is provided with perforated housings 13 for the escape of heated air from the apparatus.

In. the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, oppositely disposed parabolic reflectors are employed, one of which is seen at 4, said reflectors being connected by a cylindrical reflector 6 as in the other forms and provided with light sources 9. The parabolic reflectors 4 may be arranged at right angles to the axis of the cylindrical light reflector 6 or may be inclined with respect thereto as in the preferred form. This form of the invention is designed particularly where it is desired to illuminate more distant objects or where it is desired to concentrate the light more effectively upon relatively distant objects. I

One advantage of the increased flooding efficiency of the system lies in the fact that before the rays are projected from the apparatus they radiate in every direction in the partially confined space within the reflectors.

The apparatus is usually positioned. with the light opening out of the direct line of the vision of the observer, but it is possible to gaze into the opening without'anyblinding effect on the eyes, since the rays of light are fully scattered within the housing. The rays of light which are projected directly from the lighting elements to the I Zlf-Z internal cylindrical wall of the cylindrical re flector are broadened or spread out, so that the eyes. do not receive any offensive glare.

While the invention has been set forth and applied to certain uses, it is not limited thereto, T.

can be suspended from above, so that the rays it."

will be distributed over a considerable area on all sides of the lighting apparatus.v The possibilities for the use of the light are many and most inconceivable. The reflecting surfaces may, of

course, be constructed of any suitable material 13;.

and any kind of lighting elements may be 'employed in place of those set forth herein. In ordinary practice it is preferred to have a lighting element associated with each concave reflector, but there are situations where only one lighting element be employed between them. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, the lighting element 9 is retained, whereas the two lighting elements 9= may be omitted. The rays of light from the bulb 9 will be reflected back and forth'between the reflectors and finally projected out through the light opening.

More or less variation of the-exact details of construction ispossible without departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire, therefore,

not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction show'r'r and described, but intend, in the following' claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Lighting apparatus comprising a pair of oppositely disposed concave reflectors, a cylindrical reflector extending between said concave reflectors and having an opening in its cylindrical wall through which light rays are projected, and lighting elements disposed adjacent and between said concave reflectors and out of alignment with the axis of the cylindrical reflector.

2. Lighting apparatus comprising a cylindrical reflector having an internal reflecting surface and an opening in its cylindrical wall through which light rays are projected, a pair of oppositely disposed concave reflectors having concave reflecting surfaces co-acting with the internal cylindrical reflecting surface of the internal reflector, the axes of said concave reflectors being inclined with respect to the axis of the cylindrical reflector, and lighting elements located within the confines of said reflectors.

3. Lighting apparatus comprising a cylindrical reflector having an opening in its wall, a pair of oppositely disposed concave reflectors inclined with respect to the axis of the cylindrical reflector, and a pair of oppositely disposed lighting elements associated with the concave reflectors, each lighting element being disposed in the axis of its associated concave reflector and out of alignment with the axis of the cylindrical reflector.

THOMAS L. ZAUSKEY. 

